This article is part of the Bright Leaders of Calgary series, which features prominent corporate leaders from our Team Calgary program and their insights on the local business community and vision for the future.
Jeanette Poty is helping shape how Calgary welcomes the world — and how that hospitality strengthens our economy. As Vice Chair of the Calgary Hotel Association’s Direct Initiatives Committee, she’s a key voice in how our city shows up on the global stage.
Jeanette also serves as General Manager of The Westley Calgary Downtown, a boutique hotel known for its award-winning service, community partnerships and authentic Calgary flair. From opening new hotels to reimagining guest experiences, she’s built a career on creating spaces that reflect the vibrancy of the city itself.
Through both roles, Jeanette contributes to the vision behind Uplook: An Action Plan for Our Economy — helping to elevate Calgary’s reputation as a place where community, creativity and connection make every visit unforgettable.
We sat down with Jeanette to talk about Calgary’s growing appeal as a destination, the evolving role of hotels in city-building, and why the Blue Sky City is full of reasons to visit — and stay awhile.
You’ve been part of Calgary’s hotel and tourism industry for nearly two decades. What shifts have you seen in how visitors and business travellers perceive Calgary as a destination?
For the first half of my career, the perception guests had was that Calgary was probably just a stopping point on the way up to the mountains, and that perhaps the only noteworthy event was Stampede in July, business conducted here was all oil and gas, etc.
Within the last five years or so, there's been a real shift in which companies have offices here — from film and tech to aerospace — and that changes who's coming into our city for meetings and work projects.
From a leisure guest perspective, guests are extending their time in Calgary and really taking the time to enjoy everything that we have to offer. They're participating in a lot of the new festivals that have been developed and are realizing that Calgary is not just a stopover — it is a destination worth stopping in and taking your time to explore.
Calgary’s economic action plan, Uplook, emphasizes livability and brand. From your perspective, how does a thriving hotel sector contribute to Calgary’s identity as a world-class city?
A thriving hotel sector brings vibrancy to the city — not just for visitors, but for our residents as well. As the hotel industry continues to welcome new guests — whether it be from down the street for a staycation or from around the world for conferences such as Rotary, which took over the city in June — we put our hearts into creating more memorable stays. That creates a desire to share their stories and tell the world about our city.
As hoteliers, I think we raise the bar as we find creative ways to do better and be better, not just for our guests, but for our communities as well. More and more hotel teams, hotel brands and management companies want to get involved in their communities and create a better place where their hotels are located and operating. I think that's a big driving force behind our identity as a world-class destination.
We've contributed to and helped build a reputation for Calgary — that we are where people want to be or where you want to invest. The more we succeed in growing tourism as an industry the more there is for locals to also explore, participate in and take advantage of.
Where do you see the spirit of Calgary's Blue Sky City brand — built on optimism and possibility — most alive in Calgary right now?
I see optimism and possibility in all of the investments that are happening in our city. The recent expansion of the BMO Centre — creating a world-class convention center that is drawing conferences from all over the world in numbers that we've not been able to see before — that's a big impact.
The investment to transform Arts Commons into, again, a world-class facility that’s just going to elevate the art scene here in our city. The new event centre — that's another big investment piece that's all about optimism and possibility. It's going to bring new levels of excitement and vibrancy to our city.
I also see possibility in new residents coming into our city. I think that brings a lot of excitement, as they bring their own perspectives and a passion with them as they start building their lives here
When you talk to your peers in other cities, what do you tell them Calgary offers that they can’t find elsewhere?
I think it's a combination of small-town feel, yet big-city opportunity. People are friendly here. People acknowledge each other and say hi on the street. There are smiles when people are walking past each other. People hold doors open for each other and just a general sense of politeness and community.
I mean, we have Neighbour Day — that's something I don't think any other city has. That came from the spirit of Calgary where people pulled together to get us out of the horrible flood in 2013, and it really has become something of a landmark in our city. We celebrate the fact that we are a tightknit community and that we like to support each other.
It's the people that make it different — I think more so than the architecture or the landscape. Yes, we've got a beautiful city, but I think our people really make it different than what any other city has to offer.
I mean, we were voted friendliest city in the world, right? That's pretty crazy, and it's something to be proud of.
Talent attraction and retention are critical to Calgary’s future. What do you think sets Calgary apart as a place where people want to build their careers?
I think people want to build careers here because of the opportunities that are available. We're still a growing city with a lot of new developments and investments changing the landscape.
For example, there are two new hotels opening this year, another three have been announced, and there's still room for more. That’s great opportunity for people in my industry, which is quite transient — people are always moving around and looking for growth and career opportunities.
It’s a great place to settle down, plant roots, and build a life. Between the career potential and the quality of life, it's easy to see why a summer job placement turns into a permanent home.
What gives you optimism for Calgary’s future?
The passion of Calgarians — that continues to give me an optimistic view of what our city can be.
I'm passionate about what Calgary is right now, but I know that there are lots of great things coming — and I know that I'm not alone in that passion. I think our general population really loves our city, and that gives me hope because we all want to see it be its best.
About Team Calgary: The Team Calgary corporate partnership program engages our community’s visionary thought leaders to influence Calgary’s economic growth and create long-term prosperity and opportunities for all Calgarians.
Together, we advance the economic strategy, Uplook: An Action Plan For Our Economy, as the path to make Calgary the place where bright minds and big ideas come together with an unmatched spirit to help solve global challenges